But we do know that a baby’s ear is different to an adult. They haven’t been around for long enough to give any definitive answers about harm. The big issue with white noise machines is that we don’t know yet what the long term effects of using them may be. There have been concerns raised by researchers into potential problems with white noise contributing to auditory processing issues in children.Parents similarly, can become more than mildly irritated hearing a persistent ‘shh shh shh’ or sound of water running, especially mothers who are struggling with incontinence issues! Don’t assume your baby will respond positively to hearing it playing in their sleep space. Boosting self settling skills in infancy can be a good thing, adopting the mantra ‘start as you mean to go on’. Many parents are big believers in minimising the assistance they give their child to go off to sleep.Though some are available for around $30, they can creep up in price to $100 or more. Buying a white noise machine can be costly.This means it can be very inconvenient to go away for a few days or, be in a situation where it’s just not possible to use white noise. Babies can become so accustomed to hearing white noise that when it’s absent, they can’t sleep.The anatomy of their ear is very different to adults and long term hearing loss, as well as audio processing disorders is a possibility. When they’re played at a high volume, for a long period of time, the baby is exposed to noise which their developing ears are not designed for. White noise machines can increase the risk of noise-related hearing loss as they work on the principle of accumulated noise.
What are the Disadvantages of White Noise? Having consistent background white noise is less unsettling than complete silence.
Some babies become so accustomed to noise that when their environment is completely quiet, they are more wakeful.For parents struggling with anxiety relating to their baby’s sleep/settling, white noise can be a calming influence. Some parents find that listening to white noise helps them to focus their attention elsewhere whilst they are settling their baby.Background ‘shh-ing’ noises can have an overlay of music, lullabies or even a heartbeat to mimic sounds the baby was exposed to in utero. Baby specific white noise machines often have a range of sounds to choose from.It’s another ‘thing to try’ in the process of encouraging little people to go to sleep.It can be turned on or off, turned up or turned down – and be individualized according to the parent’s and baby’s wishes. White noise is under parental control, when so much isn’t.
Most are free and play continuously until they’re turned off. There are also lots of white noise apps which can be downloaded onto a phone or tablet. White noise often sounds like a low, steady whirring, buzzing, humming or shushing and helps to block out other noises by its sound masking capabilities. Some examples of white noise are a fan whirring in the background, a television with the sound down low or an air-conditioner humming away.
White noise is produced by combining all the different frequencies of sound at once, so no one sound is clear and distinct from the others. White noise is a sound which masks other sounds happening in an environment.
Read on to find out the facts and see what’s important to understand when it comes to white noise. White noise is also becoming popular for parents who are keen for their baby not to be disturbed by other noises.īut how true are the facts and can white noise actually cause more harm than good? White noise machine manufacturers claim they improve baby sleep, calm fractious crying and help to establish awake/sleep cycles. In the last few years, white noise has become another option in the already overcrowded baby space.